*As group calls for equal political appointments in Warri South
By Ambrose Ologide
The President-General of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide, Olorogun Moses Taiga, has stated that the presence and identity of the Urhobos of Warri could never be undermined.
He stated this at a world press conference held by the union at the UPU Cultural Centre, Uvwiamuge – Agbarho in the state’s Ughelli North Local Government Area.
While speaking on the topic : ”The Warri Factor”, the President-General admonished that while the Urhobo people “will continue to live peacefully with our neighbours in Warri, we will not allow the erasure of what Warri is to the Urhobo and what Urhobos are to Warri.”
Taiga, who responded to a question on the non-inclusion of the Urhobo Language in the curriculum of schools in Warri South Local Government Area, disclosed that UPU was working assiduously towards the inclusion of the language in the curriculum of schools, not only in Warri South Local Government Area but also in Patani Local Government Area, where the Urhobos are also located.
He disclosed that a committee headed by Chief (Mrs) Christina Siakpere and Professor (Mrs) Rose Aziza was set up by the union on the teaching of the Urhobo Language in both local government areas.
Taiga also assured that the Urhobos of Bayelsa were not left out in the scheme of affairs in UPU.
The conference marked the beginning of programmes lined up to celebrate the 90th year anniversary ceremony of the Urhobo apex socio-cultural body.
Meanwhile, the Warri Urhobo Political Class has called for equality in political appointments among the people of Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The Chairman of the group, Reverend David Otorfia, made the call in a press conference at Olodi Hall, Otor-Orere, Okumagba Estate in Warri.
Otorfia, who is a Senior Special Assistant ( SSA) to Governor Okowa on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, noted that Warri Urhobos had felt better in the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa at the state level in terms of appointments and infrastructural development.
Otorfia alleged that the Warri Urhobos had been marginalized and sidelined in terms of political appointments in Warri South Local Government Area of the state.
He noted that the Warri Urhobos were more in population than other tribes in the locality and wondered why some key positions as the Chairman and the Secretary of the council, the Secretary of the Local Education Authority, the Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the locality and PDP delegates to the recent national convention always eluded them.
Otorfia also noted that there was peace in Warri South because the Warri Urhobos had kept it, adding that the gesture was a sacrifice in maintaining the peace.
Otorfia stressed the need for a cordial relationship among the ethnic nationalities in the locality, adding that the Warri Urhobos would no longer accept a master-servant relationship in the area.
“The Warri Urhobos will no longer play a second fiddle to any other ethnic groups in terms of political appointments in Warri South Local Government Area,” he said. The group also called on Warri Urhobos to continue to support Governor Okowa Administration and PDP in order to enjoy the dividends of democracy in the locality
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